Today was our January Board Meeting. We will schedule a meeting with the Superior Club to kick off the 2024 LSDBF planning for committe leadership and work, fundraising, and Festival days volunteers site work. We will make even a better effort this year now that we have some experience. On Friday we will discuss an incentive to encourage more younger members to join and to participate in Club leadership. Russ is thinking about a Valentine's Day social outing. 

 

Guests at last week's meeting were outgoing Proctor Student Rotarians Cameron Pease and Santiago Lenz and our two new incoming Student Rotatians plus Dan Dock by Zoom. 

I often refer to our Club members as our Rotary family. During fellowship we learned that Rotary family now will have a literal meaning as Chris and Cindy Sward's son will be marrying Rob and Kristin Shamblot's daughter. How wonderful and Mazel tov from your Rotary family. Mark kicked in some happy bucks for the birth of granddaughter Silvie Rose on January 2nd. 

Russ brought a high school friend, Brian Alementi, to be our speaker. Brian grew up in Virginia, moved to Duluth, attended Denfeld, and spent many years in the insurance business as a trainer and motivator before there was a massive layoff. He decided to continue on his own as a motivational speaker. He is also a drummer and magician which he integrates into his presentations. He calls himself a "passion preacher" for his positivity which is contagious.    

 

January is Rotary Vocational Service Month. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the second object of Rotary which calls for Rotarians to encourage and foster: High ethical standards in business and professions, The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and The dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society.